Freight Australia XR class
Class of diesel locomotives used in Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The XR class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Freight Australia & Pacific National at the South Dynon Locomotive Depot.
Pacific National, South Dynon (Series 2)
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XR558 on the Mildura Fruit train in March 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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History
Between 2002 and 2006, Pacific National rebuilt six X class locomotives with engines cascaded from G class locomotives, larger radiators, and a new cab resembling a stock standard GT26 (spartan cab) with only 2 windows to provide better driver visibility.[1][2][3] The first six (XR550 - XR555) were converted from X38, X35, X40, X33, X34 and X32 respectively. A seventh (XR556) was planned to be converted from X36 but never eventuated.[4]
A further three inspired by XR555 (XR557 - XR559) were built in 2005/6 by Freight Australia's successor, Pacific National,with minor iterations to comply with regulations as new-builds.Just like XR555,these units have enlarged side windows and front windows, mufflers, and sound proofing shields. [4] The class are mechanically similar to the later XRB class B units.[4]
In 2020, several were placed in storage due to a poor grain harvest.[5][6] As of November 2024 all are in service on BG except for XR555 (pending scrapping due to sudden catastrophic mechanical failure) & XR559 which is on SG.[7] XR class locomotives are common on Tocumwal container traffic.
